After the war, Reeves returned to Hollywood. . The Iowa-born actor got his big break when he was hired to play one of Scarlett OHaras suitors in 1939s Gone with the Wind. While Reeves was depressed at the time of his death, there were oddities at the crime scene. On 16 June 1959, George Reeves retired to his bed at 12, after going out for dinner with his fianc, Leonore. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture and gave Reeves the distinction of appearing in two "Best Picture" films. There she had met and married Frank Joseph Bessolo by 1927, according to that year's federal census. Reportedly, the police had not been called until at least a half an hour after his death. He performed on live television anthology programs, as well as on radio, and then returned to Hollywood in 1951 for a role in a Fritz Lang film, Rancho Notorious.[22]. There were 104 episodes of The Adventures of Superman before the cancellation ax fell in 1958. A SHOT rang out. George Bessolo Reeves lived in a modest house in Benedict Canyon in Los Angeles, California up until the time of his death on June 15, 1959. He had affection for his young fans, and took his role-model status seriously. They found George Reeves upstairs on his bed, with a Luger between his feet and a bullet hole in his head. Perhaps fueled by a disbelief that the Man of Steel could ever take his own life, speculation and theories have abounded for more than 50 years that Lemmon, Mannix, her husband or even a hitman were responsible for the death of Superman. However, it was obvious that many parts of the investigation were not performed as they should have been. Lemmon and writer Robert Condon, who was staying at the house, were more than happy to entertain the group, but Reeves was already in bed and was not pleased by the ruckus downstairs. She was absolutely terrified of going to hell", Lozzi told the LA Times. At this time, Reeves and his mother moved from Iowa to Ashland, Kentucky, to stay with relatives for a time[10] and then to her home of Galesburg, Illinois.[11]. Reeves worried he would be typecast as a childrens actor. The police did not treat the house as a crime scene, and Lemmon was able to return shortly after they had left, have the bloody sheets washed, retrieve $4000 in travellers cheques and leave Los Angeles for New York, never to return again, not even for Reeves funeral. But she was also suffering from alzheimer's at the time of her death, and may have confused fact with the many fictions that had long circulated about the death of her former lover. His body was later cremated and interred at the Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena, which I blogged about during my Haunted Hollywood theme last year. The house where George lived is fairly modest for the area, but the asking price in 1995 was $625,000. Carol lived in the neighborhood. First, Reeves was found naked. However, many of his friends and colleagues believe the actor was murdered, his death the stormy culmination of a tangled love life. Hes going upstairs to shoot himself, she allegedly said. But it wasnt just Reeves career that was going through a dramatic turn. In contemporary news articles, Lemmon attributed Reeves' alleged suicide to depression caused by his "failed career" and inability to find more work. Released from his Warners contract, he signed a contract at Twentieth Century-Fox but was released after only a handful of films. Reeves died at the age of 45, from a gunshot wound to the head. Talking to friend Millicent Trent, Bliss said Lemmon had actually rushed down the stairs after the gunshot and urged them to Tell them I was down here! The police ruled his death a suicide, but rumors quickly surfaced that Reeves was. Around 1, two friends came by for a visit. He was found dead in his bedroom at 1:59 a.m. on June 16, 1959 in his modest home in Los Angeles' Benedict Canyon. (1942), a war drama for Paramount Pictures, which signed Reeves up for two films a year. The show was a smashing success, drawing huge audiences each episode. Although the power of the studios was waning by the 1950s, its possible Eddie Mannix still wielded enough influence to fix George Reeves at his wifes behest. He complained to friends, columnists, and his mother of his financial problems. Except for the second season, the Superman schedule was brief (13 shows shot two per week, a total of seven weeks out of a year), but all had a "30-day clause", which meant that the producers could demand their exclusive services for a new season on four weeks' notice. Separated from his wife (their divorce became final in 1950), Reeves moved to New York City in 1949. Gene LeBell was there at George's house the morning before George died, training George. The costume Reeves donned as Superman on TV. Look! In June 1951, Reeves was offered the role of Superman in a new television series[23] titled Adventures of Superman. If it was Reeves that pulled the trigger then in all likelihood it was because he had had enough of his life, for whatever reason. Warners loaned him to producer Alexander Korda to co-star with Merle Oberon in Lydia, a box-office failure. The planned revival of Superman was apparently a small lifeline. Reeves spoke out about these difficulties in a 1958 Evening Star article frankly titled No Work for Superman. When asked why he took the role, he said simply, I was hungry. But after six years, he was having a hard time pushing his career forward. That position was taken over by Frank . All was not well behind the scenes in Metropolis. Jim Beaver is just as convinced that George's death was a suicide, as was reported in the newspapers of the day. After hearing a gunshot, they waited 45 minutes before calling the police. But the strange death of Superman is not a parlour game. However, many of his friends and colleagues believe the actor was murdered, his death the stormy culmination of a tangled love life. This theory goes that Lemmon was drunk and unhappy that night and shot her soon-to-be-husband. Perhaps he came a little too close to the truth. What happened next is mired in controversy, but according to the police interviews with the witnesses, a short moment later a shot was heard and the man who had become famous for been impervious to gunfire had, ironically, ended his life with a bullet to the head. He was working on creating a fulfilling career for himself. George's fiancee Lenore Lemmon claims that in . But the scandalous and suspicious way he met his death in 1959 could not have been further removed from his role as the Man of Steel. Would the actor, generally described as an ordinary, straightforward kind of guy, really have killed himself in a house full of guests, especially choosing to do so naked - highly unusual in suicides? He was getting work as a director, and he had agreed to do another season of Superman, in which he would also direct quite a few episodes of. Peterson as saying: "Miss Lemmon blurted, 'He's probably going to go shoot himself.' Giesler had been paid a hefty sum, so why did he suddenly drop the case? Had Reeves really shot himself three times? On the night of his death, George had several friends over. He appeared in a pair of outdoor thrillers with Ralph Byrd. The 2006 movie, Hollywoodland starring Ben Affleckas Reeves, explores his life and relationships in greater detail. One, Reeves committed suicide. No photos of the body were taken and the crime scene was not properly searched or dusted for prints. On June 16, 1959, George Reeves, who was the first to make the superhero an icon when he played the titular role in the inaugural TV series, was found dead in his bedroom. George went to bed at 12:30 AM. Around one in the morning they were joined by two of the neighbors, at which point Reeves, who had already been in bed, stomped downstairs to yell at his guests. In the 1950s the actor, George Reeves was best known for his portrayal of Superman in the television series, Adventures of Superman. But unable to find work, perhaps George felt he had little choice but to return to a part that clearly caused him much anguish. While Reeves may have been famous for being Superman, the role wasnt making him a whole lot of money. The brown-shingled bungalow, which was built in 1947, boasts 2 bedrooms, 3 baths, and 1,717 square feet. This was before news of Reeves death had gotten out, and it always remained a mystery to Coates how Mannix could have known Reeves was murdered unless she was party to it. I remember watching Superman on tv, George Reeves Kelloggs Corn Flakes CommercialFilmed in his Home, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), I blogged about during my Haunted Hollywood theme last year, 1579 Benedict Canyon Drive in Beverly Hills. George Reeves' death was ruled a suicide, . Director Allen Coulter Writer Paul Bernbaum Stars Adrien Brody Ben Affleck Diane Lane See production, box office & company info Watch on STARZ with Prime Video Channels More watch options Add to Watchlist Added by 25.7K users The official finding was suicide, but some believe that he was murdered or the victim of an accidental shooting. . Honorary pallbearers included Alan Ladd and Gig Young. Listen to 022 - The Suspicious Death of George Reeves . The story told by those there that night is full of holes, the evidence perplexing and poorly handled. There was a real man behind the superhero, whose tragic early death will likely forever be a mystery. The official ruling was suicide. [42] In 1985, he was posthumously named one of the honorees by DC Comics in the company's 50th anniversary publication Fifty Who Made DC Great. However, Superman producers offered him a salary increase, and he returned to the series. Two, Eddie Mannix killed the actor in revenge for upsetting his wife. For some reason Reeves had contorted his head so it was tilted upwards at the point of firing, as the bullet was found embedded in the ceiling. If they were fired earlier, then at the very least its evidence somebody in the house had a somewhat cavalier attitude to firearms. Its too late for this nonsense. Leonore asked, Is this a joke or a shoot? meaning was he kidding around, or what? The death of the original Superman is one of those American mysteries that may never fully add up. In 1952, the struggling ABC Network purchased the show for national broadcast, which gave him greater visibility. Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images Phyllis Coates and George Reeves in The Adventures of Superman. According to the autopsy report, Reeves had taken his .30 caliber German Luger pistol, placed it near his right temple and pulled the trigger. Witnesses in the house who behaved a little oddly but heard the whole thing. Had the jilted older woman taken things one step too far and shot Reeves in a jealous rage? George Reeves was born George Keefer Brewer in Woolstock, Iowa, the son of Don Brewer and Helen Lescher (his death certificate erroneously lists his birthplace as Kentucky). On June 16, 1959, Reeves died from a single gunshot wound in the bedroom of his Benedict Canyon home. She also kept his shaving utensils and lotions, and even built an altar in the house with a crucifix, candles and an 11-by-14 photograph of Reeves. The windows above the living room are the windows to George's bedroom. Whilst highly speculative, some corroboration to this comes from Reeves own Lois Lane, actress Phyllis Coates. George was dressed in a gray Clark Kent Suit from the tv show and his body was taken to Gates/Kingsley/Gates on Sepulveda. Character: . George Reeves died of a gunshot wound to his head in the upstairs bedroom at his home in Benedict Canyon. According to Jim Nolts fabulous Superman-themed The Adventures Continue website, the house has remained largely unchanged since the time Reeves lived there over fifty years ago. In the home of actor George Reeves, people frantically handed somebody else their martini glass and then tried to wake the naked couple in bed, though the police wouldn't be called for nearly an hour.Earlier that evening, Reeves and his fiance had gotten into an argument at a restaurant or two and, despite planning to wed in only four days' time, Reeves reportedly wanted . They had no children and divorced 10 years later.[16]. The half-hour films were shot on tight schedules; at least two shows were made every six days. Reeves himself was convinced it was Mannix behind a string of strange incidents that had befallen him in the aftermath of their breakup. I have been researching a full-scale George Reeves (born George Keefer Brewer; January 5, 1914 - June 16, 1959) was an American actor. Everyone involved decided that it had been a suicide. Reeves death was the first in what would come to be a string of tragedies surrounding the role, in what would come to be known as the Superman curse. Effectively living an open marriage, Eddie tolerated, even liked Reeves, and himself maintained a younger mistress. Jack Larson, who died at 87 on Sunday, was a gifted writer and gay man whose talents and personal struggles were overshadowed by his role as . But in a franchise that's seen its share of tragedy George Reeves's reported suicide, Christopher Reeve's spinal injury the woes of the actor who played Jimmy in the 1950s went underreported. According to partygoers, one of the guests raced upstairs to find Reeves lying across his bed, the life snuffed out of him by a bullet in the head. He directed the final 13 episodes of the series, and told the Evening Star that he was enthused about doing more.. Location: California, United States Date Posted: 1/12/2010 6:55:33 PM However, friends and relatives think Reeves career troubles were exaggerated. Two people who might have had strong motives were Toni and Eddie Mannix. It was an open secret in the business that Reeves had been conducting a long term affair with Toni Mannix, the wife of notorious Hollywood fixer and MGM vice president Eddie Mannix. George Reeves (born George Keefer Brewer in 1914) began his Hollywood career in a variety of bit parts in the late 1930s, including a small role in the epic film Gone with the Wind, and worked . [28] He appeared as Superman on I Love Lucy (Episode #165, "Lucy and Superman") in 1957. More sinister still, did Eddie Mannix, a man whose job it was to make Hollywood scandals go away, pull some of his underworld strings and hire a hitman to erase the man who had so grievously upset his wife? The same cast was very quickly taken on for a television series, The Adventures of Superman, sponsored by Kellogg's cereal, which began airing late in 1952. The findings of a second autopsy, conducted at Giesler's request, were the same as the first, except for a series of bruises of unknown origin about the head and body. Jack Larson and Noel Neill both remembered Reeves as a noble Southern gentleman (even though he was from Iowa) with a sign on his dressing room door that said "Honest George, the people's friend". Reeves would frequently bemoan the role he felt so trapped in, with particular disdain reserved for the crude and repetitive scripts that often required little more of him than to turn up at the end and have the villains bullets bounce off his chest. Historical Person Search Search Search Results Results George Azer Reeves (1914 - 1945) Try FREE for 14 days Try FREE for 14 days. After two seasons, Reeves was dissatisfied with his salary and the show's one-dimensional role. Two additional bullets were discovered embedded in the bedroom floor. The 45-minute delay in getting help, in this scenario, was the time it took for her and her house guests to cover up the murder. He had also lined up a science fiction script called Return to Earth, by screenwriter Sidney Fields that he had hoped to direct, possibly with his Superman co-star Phyllis Coates in one of the lead roles. Reeves was dressed in one of his characters Clark Kent suits for the funeral, which took place two weeks later, on June 30th, 1959. George Reeves Facts. Conspiracy theories abound and Reeves death has remained the stuff of Hollywood legend for over five decades since. In a wild turn of events, the alleged problem with this situation was not the affair itselfjilted husband Eddie had his own liaisons outside of the marriage and allegedly had no problem with his wifes relationship with Reeves. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound! During the dinner, they had argued. And that was the scene that was set on June 15, 1959. Leonore Lemmon was, by all accounts, a bit of a hell-raiser. A script was commissioned from David Chantler, who had written many of the TV scripts. While this may have been the final act for George Reeves Superman, it was the first act in what would become one of the biggest mysteries surrounding the role. It is located in a fairly modest area, even though the asking price in 1995 was $625,000. Great article tho. He died instantly and fell backwards, his feet still hungover the bed and his back on the mattress. She even commissioned a second autopsy, which concluded that Reeves was possibly murdered. 'See thereI told you so! The night Superman died and an enduring mystery was born. Even outside of the world of comic books, bullets sometimes do funny things, and that was certainly the case in the death of George Reeves. [26] He was reportedly making $5,000 (about $50,000 in today's dollars) per week, but only while the show was in production (about eight weeks each year). [33] Reeves had been made a "Kentucky Colonel" during a publicity trip in the South, and the sign on his dressing room door was replaced with a new one that read "Honest George, also known as Col. Reeves", created by the show's prop department. Perhaps the toxic mixture of alcohol and painkillers had led to a fatal misjudgment? His work on the show would earn him fame as the Original Superman, even though that wasnt technically true. Leonore Lemmon became an alcoholic, got fat, suffered from Dementia and died in 1990. George Reeves (born George Keefer Brewer; January 5, 1914 June 16, 1959) was an American actor. While studying acting at the Pasadena Playhouse, Reeves met his future wife, Ellanora Needles. (1942), a war drama for Paramount Pictures. Walker's property became known as "Houdini's House." Shortly after Houdini died on Halloween . Hes going upstairs to shoot himself, she explained to the other guests, who then heard a sound from upstairs. Some after his death said it was a profound depression and frustration with his career that led to the night in question. The Mysterious Death of Superman George Reeves It wasn't Kryptonite that killed Superman. As far as Reeves was concerned, one has to wonder if he had any regrets. The Afterlife of George Reeves Actor George Reeves died at 1:59 am on June 16, 1959. "An element of mystery" Reeves' death may have been ruled a suicide, but not everyone believed it. For decades friends, family and strangers alike have speculated on his mental state and whether he was the type of person to commit suicide or not, but the truth is only George Reeves himself knew what was truly going on in his mind. At his funeral, he was laid to rest in the same suit that he wore on the TV show as "Clark Kent." 2 min read. Amazingly, George Reeves shot part of a Kelloggs Corn Flakes commercial (the cereal company was the sponsor of Adventures of Superman) inside of his actual Benedict Canyon home. On June 16, 1959, Reeves was found dead in his bedroom from a gunshot wound to the head. Over the years, occupants of the house have been plagued by not only the sound of a single gunshot that echoes in the darkness, but strange lights, and even the apparition of George Reeves On June 15, George and Leonore had gone out to a rather boozy dinner, to celebrate the upcoming marriage. A month later, having uncovered no evidence contradicting the official finding, Giesler announced that he was satisfied that the gunshot wound had been self-inflicted and withdrew.[41][39]. In actual fact The Adventures of Superman was due to return in 1960, with a higher pay packet for Reeves and the promise that he would be able to direct more of the episodes, something he had enjoyed doing on the last three shows of the previous season. Or was the culprit his new girlfriend, the volatile and temperamental Lemmon, who had argued with Reeves the night of his death about the late night party she was having whilst he tried to sleep off his own night of heavy drinking? Present in the house at the time of the incident were Leonore Lemmon (who had been Reeves's fiancee at the time), William Bliss, writer Richard Condon, and Carol . Bud Collyer had voiced the Man of Steel on the radio from 1940 to 1951, and Kirk Alyn played the role in two 15-part movie serials that ended in 1950. As Reeves returned to his room, Lemmon bizarrely began providing some morbid commentary. [17] He avoided smoking cigarettes where children could see him and eventually quit smoking. 1959: Los Angeles police arrive at the home of 45-year-old actor George Reeves, famous for his role as TV's Superman, and find him naked and dead of a gunshot wound to the head. Michael Hayde firmly believes that George Reeves was murdered. His passing even became the subject of the 2006 biographical docudrama Hollywoodland, in which Ben Affleck plays the Pasadena-bred television star. She died in 1989. In June 2021, an episode of the internet series BuzzFeed Unsolved discussed the death of Reeves and possible theories. Loved the commercial..how cool! Next, read about the gruesome and unsolved murder of the Black Dahlia. Worst of all occurred on April 8th, when Reeves lost control of his Jaguar and careered into a cement pillar near his home in Benedict Canyon. The main reason Reeves was said to have committed suicide was depression over his declining fortunes as an actor. [24] As for Port of Entry, Reeves was never able to gain financing for the project, and the show was never made. Between the start of production on Gone With the Wind and its release 12months later, several films on his Warner contract were made and released, making Gone With the Wind his first film role, but his fifth film release. While he and Lemmon were supposed to get married only a few days after his death, Lemmon allegedly had soured on him after she realized the older Superman wasnt quite the loaded Hollywood player she thought he was. Another Superman stage show was scheduled for July[32] with a planned stage tour of Australia. Even after almost a half-century, the mystery surrounding the untimely death of actor George Reeves remained such a potent and fascinating piece of Hollywood legend - it had been the subject of countless articles, books, and one film, the neo-noir "Hollywoodland" (2006) - that one could easily forget that the man himself as well as his long time acting career prior to his demise. He died in June of 1959, not 1958. He was contracted to Warner Brothers at the time, and the actor's professional name became "George Reeves" and his GWTW screen credit reflects the change. The 2006 film Hollywoodland, starring Ben Affleck as Reeves and Adrien Brody as a fictional investigator loosely based on actual detective Milo Speriglio, dramatizes the investigation of Reeves' death. According to Condon, Lemmon was in an combative mood that night, and had made somewhat of a scene in the restaurant. Their relationship was full of booze and bickering. A detective examines the mysterious death of George Reeves, the star of the television series Adventures of Superman (1952). As more and more time passed between acting jobs paying less and less, Reeves was reduced to appearing in a low-budget serial produced by Sam Katzman, The Adventures of Sir Galahad, and taking a second job digging cesspools. Besides, she was married to the most dangerous man in Hollywood, who had a formidable reputation for been able to make problems disappear. He had a string of B-list movies after that, and was slowly working his way up to leading man status when bombs dropped on Pearl Harbor. [19][20][21], Discharged at the war's end, Reeves returned to Hollywood. George Reeves mother Helen Bessolo never accepted the official verdict and hired private investigators to to reopen the investigation into his death. Reeves head and hands showed no signs of gunshot residue or powder burns. (The punchline: Ricardo, do you mean to say that youve been married to her for 15 years? Quick Description: The actor George Reeves house where TV's "Superman," was found dead of a head gunshot wound on June 16, 1959. However, many studios were slowing down their production schedules, and some production units had shut down completely. In 1957, the producers considered a theatrical film Superman and the Secret Planet. According to legend, the house at 1579 Benedict Canyon Drive in Los Angeles where actor George Reeves died of a gunshot wound to the head early in the morning of June 16, 1959 is haunted. The first half of the show was a Superman sketch in which Reeves and Neill performed with LeBell as a villain called "Mr. Kryptonite" who captured Lois Lane. Later, Reeves's mother,[12] who was of German descent, moved to California to stay with her sister. And then there were the bruising and other marks on Reevess body. He looked forward to working with So Proudly We Hail! According to the Argus observer, "George Reeves, 45, was found dead in his upstairs bedroom of this house . There were also fresh bruises on the body. Reeves died of a gunshot wound to the head in the upstairs bedroom of his home at 1579 Benedict Canyon Drive[34] in Benedict Canyon between 1:30 and 2:00a.m. on June 16, 1959, according to the Los Angeles Police Department report. A funeral was held on Wednesday, June 30. Noel Neill was quoted as saying that the cast of Superman was ready to do a new series of the still-popular show. Tell them I was down here!. The Mannixs relationship was unusual even by the standards of Hollywood. Finally, a single shot rang out. This theory centres around the mysterious WIlliam Bliss, a stranger to both Reeves and Leonore Lemmon, whose presence in the house that night has never been adequately explained. Reeves was extremely intoxicated when he died, and also pumped full of painkillers to treat the injuries he received in his recent car accident. Nobody wanted me to work at all. Why Anton Drexler Was More Responsible For The Nazi Party Than Adolf Hitler, The Gruesome Murders Of Andrei Chikatilo Russia's "Red Ripper", What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch, Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images, Reeves played opposite Vivien Leigh as one of the Tarleton twins in. Lemmon says George Reeves committed suicide. The film suggests three possible scenarios: accidental shooting by Lemmon, murder by an unnamed hitman under orders from Eddie Mannix, and suicide. [1][2][3][4][5][6], Reeves was born January 5, 1914,[7][8] as George Keefer Brewer in Woolstock, Iowa, the son of Donald Carl Brewer and Helen Lescher. [1] [2] His death at age 45 from a gunshot remains controversial. By mid 1959, contracts were signed, costumes refitted, and new teleplay writers assigned. Is there any truth in the persistent rumours that Reeves was murdered? His personal life took a turn for the worse a long-term affair with another man's common-law wife ended badly; he finally filed a restraining order against her. When he returned, his mother told him his stepfather had committed suicide. The Suspicious Death of George Reeves. Getting tapped to play a famous superhero may be considered the pinnacle of an acting career today, but Reeves agreed to the role out of desperation. (1956), in which Reeves wore a beard and mustache. In the early morning of June 16, 1959, George was found dead . SUPERMAN MURDER SOLVED! The actors were poorly paid, and even after Reeves received a raise after trying and failing to leave the show after three seasons, he found himself struggling for money, unable to get the roles he really wanted, and taxed for time given the all-consuming nature of his Superman commitments. Reeves usually had an open door policy, but not after midnight. Robert Condon, a writer interested in writing a biography on George, stayed in the house. She also hired private investigators to investigate his death. Superman birth place and death house (George Reeves) 50,169 views Dec 23, 2016 Like Dislike Share Save LandumC goes there 147K subscribers George Reeves (Superman) birth location and the. I was depressed, and I accepted instantly that he had committed suicide, Larson told Unsolved Mysteries in 1995. On the night of June 16, 1959, George Reeves was found dead in his bedroom from a gunshot wound to the head in his Benedict Canyon home, while his fiance Lemmon was downstairs hosting a party. The home has not changed much since the mid-fifties. The characters involved range from colorful to drunk to suspicious, having by now taken any secrets . However, Reeves mother, Helen Bessolo, was convinced that her son had been murdered. Death 06/10/1945 - Rebaul N.G. George Reeves Real name: George Keefer Brewer, George Bessolo. A photo of a smiling Reeves and the sign appears in Gary Grossman's book about the show. Hollywood was recovering from the war, but slowly, and Reeves wasnt the only actor trying to make up for lost time with renewed dedication to dreams that were still very much alive but suddenly even further out of reach.
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